Unstable White People and Islam: A Muslim convert responds

Are Muslims so scary that white folks have lost their minds? How else can we understand the sudden and widespread adoption of identity politics by so many opinion leaders who speak to this targeted demographic through conservative media? These consumers are bombarded daily with messages that demonstrate two clear signs of mental instability; self-contradiction and irrational fear.

Case in point, just this week on local radio I heard a comment that was more akin to the oxymoronic language of left-wing activists and their idiotic phrases like “majority-minority population,” but instead it came from a conservative talker. Sitting in traffic, Houston’s own Michael Berry gave us one of the clearest examples of fear mongering I have ever heard. Berry, a bit more sophisticated than most talkers, still lead listeners toward adopting the very same special interest activism that is normally fought tooth and nail when the tactic is used by hyphenated-Americans. The popularity of anti-Muslim defamation is no longer novel nor is it shocking. What was interesting is how it was used to set the stage for identity politics.

The comments were directed at TLC (The Learning Channel) and their new series called All American Muslim. What caught my ear was the following statement: “I have never met a white person, who converted to Islam, who I thought was stable.”

Hear Berry’s remark on white Muslims and the full segment on the show below:

Inane talk like this has become prevalent as a result of America’s jihad to deal with the tremendous demographic and cultural changes that are causing so much insecurity.

Fear is hard to recognize when it is shared by otherwise normal, well-mannered and good-natured people. We are talking about everyday folks, mostly white, mostly baby-boomers, who are law abiding and productive citizens. Still, many in this group seem to have lost touch with their core values. The rights of the individual have been replaced with opposition to headscarves and veils. Private property rights now bow down to mosque and community center opposition. Free market enterprise, entrepreneurship and developing new markets are now shaped by the very visible hand of anti-Muslim sentiment, as exemplified in the protests over Campbell’s Soup’s adopting a halal (Muslim version of kosher) certification. The golden rule’s more aggressive twin, “don’t tread on me” has submitted to a new motto of “I oppose you.” Perhaps most troubling for our great nation is that our respect and faith in the constitution has been converted into an obsessive fear of “shariah creep.”

Please don’t expect me to stomach the idea that less than 1.5% of our nation’s populace could actually impose on the remaining 98.5% rules like not allowing women to “go out in public” unless they were wearing a “bee keeper outfit.”

Do you really think that some minuscule portion of the community could make you tolerate a father “murdering his daughter” for “dating a white guy” or for not “marrying who her father” told her to?

Of course you wouldn’t. It is silly to even think it. So how is it that the movement of and for the constitution is giving anti-Muslim fear triumph over our founding documents? Come on Tea Partiers let’s put the Patriot back in the name and take our constitution seriously. The first amendment’s Anti-Establishment Clause is not the same thing as the language most people confuse it for, the “separation of church and state,” and that’s precisely because it prevents the possibility of any theocratic take over.

The Tsar of Texas radio continued: “I have never once met a white American, who converted to Islam, who wasn’t in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life, and trying to make the whole world notice them…”

Talk about identity politics at its best, well its worst actually. This comment transcends race or culture as means to divide Americans, it allows, no in fact it encourages that even a member of your own family be classified as “the other” due to their changing their religious beliefs. Where are the Danbury Baptists when you need them?

Now Michael, I think you must recognize kindred spirits here because white, American Muslims aren’t the only people who are “in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life … and trying to make the whole world notice them…”

It might just be me, but that sounds a lot like the job description for a talk show host, so as a white convert to Islam, where can I sign up?

Iesa Galloway, a convert to Islam, is a native born Texan who gravitates toward centre-right political views and is the product of the “Military Brat” experience of the 1990s by growing up on US Army bases in Europe. He works in public relations and has an interfaith, multiracial background.

You’re full of it. Instead of brushing him off because 1 of the 3 links is from Wikipedia, how about using substance to debate. Are you actually denying the fact? Just because it’s from Wikipedia doesn’t necessarily mean it’s untrue.

Fact: the Nation of Islam uses prisons to convert blacks to Islam. They’ve been doing this forever. Hell, Mike Tyson…

I don’t read you often, so if you don’t mind – please provide some links to some of your writings AGAINST female mutilation, honor killings, the idiocy of killing or threatening to kill someone who draws Mohammed. Thanks.

Angie- Are you the ultimate epitome of ignorance? Are you a Christian? Denounce this then and prove your religion to everyone reading this back page religious blog (all 6 people):

But if this charge is true (that she wasn’t a virgin on her wedding night), and evidence of the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime against Israel by her unchasteness in her father’s house. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21 NAB)

You quoted the Old Testament referencing Christianity. I’ll let that slide being Chrisitians still reference the Old Testament but consider it old law (the new testament is Judaism + Jesus).

Secondly, in order for your rant to be taken into context, please provide examples from this century where Christians follow these old laws in the Bible, particularly like the example you provided.

See, here’s the difference. Christians don’t go around stoning people these days, but the Muslims you so eagerly seek to defend, still do in vast numbers, and is actually law in Muslim theocracies, as well as seeing many honor killings right here in the US.

I’ll gladly help dig up some of the references you’re looking for, when you give us links relating to female mutilation, honor killings, etc. IN AMERICA. Because that’s what we’re talking about- Muslims IN AMERICA.

Stoning is a different matter. It does seem largely confined to Muslim states yet there are many undocumented reports of Christian stonings within these states. Interesting to note that there is not a single reference to stoning in the Koran but multiple references to stoning in the Old Testament (with no specific denunciations in the New).

Regardless, most of you have your mind made up on these matters so you won’t bother to read the articles, or will look at the URLs and claim they are “liberal rags”.

Bob, Rejecting Islam is your prerogative. But…for the record…the Christian “minority” in many predominantly Muslim counties have – and continue to – commit terroristic and seditious attacks. Go learn about Christian “love” dispensed during the 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s in Lebanon or in Bosnia in the 90’s. Similarly, the Copts of Egypt have instigated – or attempted to instigate – numerous sectarian conflicts. You wont hear this in your men’s bible study a they cover “Islam” through the eyes of some “unbiased” Israeli “expert” nor will you hear it on Fox News. And I guess you wouldn’t consider that many around the world feel a bit “terrified” as our bombs fall from the sky.

Ignorance. We aren’t carrying out the wars (which I oppose) with regards to Christianity, or in the name of.

This is what your typical liberal does; justifies Muslim atrocities, when the atrocities are CARRIED OUT IN THE NAME OF ISLAM, by saying “it’s not because he’s Muslim”. Then, when America does something that has nothing to do with Chrisitianity, you then label our actions as being done in the name of Christianity.

“The first amendment’s Anti-Establishment Clause is not the same thing as the language most people confuse it for, the “separation of church and state,” and that’s precisely because it prevents the possibility of any theocratic take over”

=========================

Wait, are you talking about the daily meltdowns of people in this paper and this country whenever someone says “God Bless You” at a VA cemetary or a Governor prays?

Wow. A person voicing his opinion, or vocalizing his personal experiences, is ‘hate mongering’…’fear mongering’?
A bit oversensitive, are we?
Aren’t you doing the same with YOUR medium, the chron, when it comes to mocking and making fun of Christians?
Hypocrite, much?
Or just part of your religion?

Come on! He is a talk show host, not government official. He’s paid to give his opinion and his opinion is that the rank and file Muslim does nothing to combat the aggresive nature of some of those in its religion and in many respects embrace it. So if the shoe fits then wear it!

Until the use of terrorism as a political/religious tool can be entirely removed from Islamic culture, Muslims will somewhat justifiably remain targets of suspicion and xenophobia, and until xenophobia can be entirely removed from fundamentalist Christianity, constructive coexistence between the two will never be possible. The terror fuels the xenophobia and the xenophobia fuels the terror.

Instead of suggesting that Michael Berry is a racists, bigot, intolerant, etc. Why not have these discussions? or have we had them already? If you are a practicing Christian, have read scripture and incorporate it in your personal life (or at least make an attempt to), then many would understand when Christ, himself, warned us to “Beware of False Prophets”. Am I a bigot by merely suggesting, or at least igniting the discussion/dialogue, that perhaps, just perhaps, Christ was referring to the “Prophet Mohammed”? Well, we all know who radical Islamists refer to, when they justify their erratic behavior..No???

To be fair, radical Christians refer to Jesus when justifying their erratic behavior. Plus “beware of false prophets” could refer to anyone. Anyone who disagrees with one’s formed opinions could easily be labeled a “false prophet;” it’s very vague, but if Mohammed claimed to be a Christian prophet and his teachings went against the core values of Christianity, he’s probably a “false prophet” as it relates to Christianity.
I don’t think anyone should have to be forced to discuss their stability unless they prove the need, otherwise. I also believe Michael Berry is just an entertainer and he said what he did to promote discussion on his show. I think it’s a silly way to go about it, but here we are, discussing it.

What Muslim groups speak out against terrorism in the name of Allah? Why don’t we hear more from them? Why don’t we, in this country, hear “white converts” to the Muslim faith speak out in opposition to the atrocities commited in the name of Allah? If Mr. Berry is so wrong, why only speak out against what he says? This is more of “watch this hand, not the other hand”!

Don’t lump me in with your opinions, Charleen. I’m a God-fearing Christian, Lutheran to be specific, and I do not agree with Berry’s statements. His words are very bigoted, and not worthy of any more of my thought process.

FROM THE CHRONICLE MAY 28, 2010: Michael Berry said, “I’ll tell you this — if you do build a mosque, I hope somebody blows it up.” Berry added: “I hope the mosque isn’t built, and if it is, I hope it’s blown up, and I mean that.”

“The Tsar of Texas radio continued: “I have never once met a white American, who converted to Islam, who wasn’t in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life, and trying to make the whole world notice them…”

Hmmm…sounds suspiciously like the description of someone who would have a talk show so they can spout off daily to random people…

His statement “I have never once met a white American, who converted to Islam, who wasn’t in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life, and trying to make the whole world notice them…” is a sort of self-fulfilling fact. If a white American convert is not “in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life, and trying to make the whole world notice them…”, than how would he even know that he knows this person? A white American convert who isn’t looking for attention and isn’t lashing out, and isn’t trying to make anyone notice them, wouldn’t be obvious and Michael Berry would likely not even realize he had met them.

@Rex Vaughn, I was actually a VERY unenthusiastic supporter of McCain (too often we are forced to choose between unattractive candidates). I did not believe (I now feel a bit vindicated) that Obama had the experience needed for our nation’s highest office, nor the support of his own party and I predicted that he would end up a lot like Jimmy Cater… time will tell… I just want to see our nation thriving. Fear based and identity based politics distracts us from more important matters.

The world is full of hypocrisy, why limit it to religion. I am more concerned that you may imply that Christians are not Christians and that, my friend, is not something within your skill set to judge. If you are talking about falling short of God’s expectations, then we are all hypocrites and to that end I’d rather be in church trying to repent than in the secular world in denial.

@Kate
So you are saying that Michael Berry is playing identity politics when he gives his opinion of the people whom he has had contact with but what you don’t realize is that when you label his opinion as wrong you do nothing but prove that liberals,like yourself, agree with free speech as long at the speech is something you agree with and deem correct. Why don’t you just come out and tell Michael he is entitled to his opinion when you give it to him.

I love it when someone tries to extrapolate the 4% Non-muslim related terror incidents into somehow equaling in occurrence the other 96% of the terrorist incidents that are directly tied to the “Religion of Peace”.

I think nearly everyone who has responded on here has expressed my thoughts about the subject that YOU made a deal of, Ms Shellnut. It’s just too bad that you and too many others of your thinking do not get it. By the way, why not a report on how the Muslims are taking over Europe? Why not a report of how their desire is to take over America? This was noted back in 2006: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1627892/posts

I think the so called sources cited says it all here. Seeing as though islam isnt even 1% of the US population (maybe its over one these days, I dont know) I would say they have a very long long long way to go here…and I dont think anything besides them being the majority will allow them to subvert our legal system and our constitution. When this day comes…I will be ranting and shouting along with you.

If Caleb and Joshua the two spies of Israel among the twelve were here with us today, they would say, the Muslims are bread for us..let us go up at once and take them … God’s promises are our inheritance , and he promises to make our enemies our footstool, but demands that we love them… get it?

probably not no. not yet anyway. The Word of God can penetrate any wall.

We might not like the results, but my God is in charge. However, I don’t think we as Christians should let comment go unchallenged. Buntingheads would have us believe that because the population is so small that we should have no concern. From a very near relative who spent 3 years in Sweden, 10 years ago, the Muslim population was also “very small” there. Today, the growth of the Muslim population has presented a problem to Sweden much like the illegal immigration issue has caused a problem for states that border Mexico. However, the Muslims in Sweden are not considered “illegal.” When the European Economic Community combined, one more bad decision was to allow open immigration from EEC countries. All a foreigner has to do to gain explicit citizenship of any EEC country is to establish legal residence in one. They than then travel to any other EU country and establish the same residence there. Because the city is no longer British in most senses of the word, foreigners fly into Manchester, establish residence, and then relocate to other EU countries. By 2004, 25% of Malmo, Sweden’s population was Muslim. By 2007, 40% of the population is Muslim. Malmo, in an attempt to save its city, is fighting back but current projections are that without a limitation on uncontrolled immigration, by the end of this year, Muslims will constitute 55% of the population. The problem with 1%? It never stays 1%.

As soon as you hear some bone head say “my God” it is time to change the channel. You people make it sound like God is standing there in his P.E. shorts picking teams for dodgeball or something. If you really believe God is “yours” you should keep it to yourself if you want to be taken seriously outside of your church.

“Do you really think that some minuscule portion of the community could make you tolerate a father “murdering his daughter” for “dating a white guy” or for not “marrying who her father” told her to?”

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Even most Muslims in America would see this as unthinkable. I married a Muslim woman from Pakistan and while I am sure I was not the ideal image of what they hoped would be their son-in-law. They welcomed me into the family knowing I was not Muslim and never will be.

Mr. Berry has a job to do, to get people to listen to him (like him or hate him) and this brings listeners to his sponsors. Best case scenario, he gets people like you who post about what he says (and he very often says crazy xenophobic, hyperbolic rhetoric). Just like any pundit, he needs to try and appear relevant and any attention is good attention. People need to stop looking to pundits both liberal and conservative to set or reinforce their beliefs. Think for yourself and see these people for what they are…their #1 agenda is simply making money for their sponsors.

“in some way lashing out, begging for attention, or trying to give some greater meaning to their life … and trying to make the whole world notice them…”
He is probably talking about the very Michael Berrys, Joe Pags, Sean Hannitys, Rush Limboughs, Rachel Meadows, Keith Olbermans, Ed Schultzs (the list goes on an on, can’t leave out Glenn Beck) who use the same attributes to divide, spew hatred and become rich all at the same time. This country was not built (and became the best country in the world) on the shoulders of people like them, though they try to sound like it all the time.

I agree 100% with switching off Michael Berry if you detest him. But from the comments posted here, you guys profess to HATING MB, but somehow you all seem to know very intimately, what he is saying on his show. How can that be? Little hint: You actually AGREE with him, but not the way he presents the material. It can’t be explained any other way. Why does the author of this blog even KNOW anything about Michael Berry? Another Hint: They are aware that he is most time correct!!!!!
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Pappy

Speaking just for myself, I dont simply listen or watch to hear and see only what I agree with. I like to listen to news, and I sometimes listen to AM talk to see what these people are saying. I can only tolerate so much until I move on but listening to any one of these guys for a half hour will tell you ALL you need to know about them. I dont agree with much of what he has to say and see him for what he is, a conservative pundit entertainer…and even Mr. Berry will tell you that only people who agree with him calling in a listening wouldnt make a great show.

I dont know why they dont hire liberal pundits as well. Put one in between Hannity and Berry and they will, without doubt, keep listening and calling to be outraged and abuse the liberal and the liberals will stay on to listen and get outraged by the conservative…I am sure it would be a win in ratings.

I’ve been so disappointed in Berry. Shortly after he begun, I quit listening to KTRH. The few times I have listened it was as if he was baiting his audience with extreme views to obtain an expected response (got ya sucka) with no other views allowed. It’s as if he’s playing the “Right Wing Card” to prove his worth to his people (whoever that is) – wonder why… I won’t go there and I will continue not to listen to KTRH.

Michael Berry is no different from any other talk show host, liberal or conservative. They say outrageous things to get attention and increase their ratings. Rantings = ratings. Higher ratings = higher prices for commercials on the show. Simple business and nothing more.

This whole entry you’ve written is nothing but a bunch of drivel. Consider: Berry NEVER said “all white converts are unstable”, or “all Muslims are unstable”, so what’s your beef? He said the ones he’s met. He hasn’t met you, so he wasn’t talking about you, right?

People like you who take generic statements, many times out of context, and statements of generality as if someone is talking about something that applies 100%, is shameful. It’s as if I said “man, Chinese people are short”, you’d get all upset and point to Yao Ming as if the exception disproves the rule, as if I can’t make a general statement that’s true because it’s not true 100% of the time.

There’s probably many other things you could get Berry on, but you picked this fight precisely because you’re Muslim and white, and want to pretend Berry is saying the things I previously stated about white Muslims or Muslims in general.

Lesa, Lesa, Lesa. Listen to your self. Here are your own words. Guess what. You fall into the same stereotyping trap you are accusing other people of. Here are your own words. “Fear is hard to recognize when it is shared by otherwise normal, well-mannered and good-natured people. We are talking about everyday folks, mostly white, mostly baby-boomers, who are law abiding and productive citizens. Still, many in this group seem to have lost touch with their core values.”

I am confused,you state you are a white convert to islam, then list your background as multiracial. Did only your white side convert? Also Michael Berry didn’t say all who converted are unstable. Just all that he has met. We must have met some of the same people because I have found the same thing.

thats interesting because as a person who has Muslim family members and their friends and acquaintances I have found most Muslims (either convert or born, I know both) to be quite sane…save the fact that they follow an invisible all knowing and powerful super being which, in and of itself, seems a bit strange if you think about it.

You guys are missing the entire point of the piece… I am pointing out the use of identity politics as a means to divide Americans. I don’t believe it is a tactic befitting those of us who support the constitution.

@fixerupper – I don’t consider “whiteness” just one “race.” This is a big topic maybe for another piece someday, but in short understand that these labels have many layers of meaning and are used differently depending on people’s agendas, perspectives or understandings.

“those who shall follow the Apostle, the unlettered prophet whom they shall find described in the Torah that is with them, and in the Gospel: who will enjoin upon them the doing of what is right and forbid them the doing of what is wrong, and make lawful to them the good things of life and forbid them the bad things, and lift from them their burdens and the shackles that were upon them. Those, therefore, who shall believe in him, and honour him, and succour him, and follow the light that has been bestowed from on high through him-it is they that shall attain to a happy state.”

Okay this is a quote from the Quran (M Asad translation). So where in the Torah and the Gospel does it describe Mohammad?

If both the Torah and the Gospel do not then the Quran itself speaks out against Mohammad being the Apostle.

according to the department of homeland security in the last 10 years there have been Five (5) terrorist acts committed by Christians and seventeen thousand five hundred and twelve (17,512) by muslim terrorists. Islam the religion of hate wins this one. Hopefully the next Christain terrorist act will be to bomb mecca and blow the remains of the bum called mohammed into a million pieces.

Christ Jesus is the only way to God since He Himself is God incarnate. Anyone who does not accept Christ as his Saviour, who does not believe that Christ died for their sin(s), is not saved, does not have eternal life, and the wrath of God abides on him.

It’s too bad. Michael Berry was interesting when he was focused on local politics. Now he just sounds like ever other conservative talk show host with an overgrown ego. He just throwing out an occasional rant so his name stays in the news (which ironically makes him just like SJL).

I enjoyed reading your op-ed but I am afraid I don’t know if you anticipated what was coming.
I face these folks almost daily on the Belief blog. Do not be discouraged, there are good people out there, once in a while they will make comments and it is a breath of fresh air which gives hope.
I hope good for these folks also, maybe someday they will learn to apply the true tolerance and respect for other faiths and its followers.
This will come if they try to understand and not be led by the media or talk show hosts – they must spend time to learn the facts themselves.